We hunger and thirst for lives that are more fully alive. God, Author of Life, please lead us there.

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

A Father to the Fatherless

I had a counseling appointment this morning with a friend who's going through an incredibly difficult time right now. After our meeting, I spent some time meditating on a Psalm that the Lord brought to mind during our time together. It says something I believe many of us desperately long to hear. It says, Sing to God, sing praises to His name . . . A father of the fatherless & champion for the widows, God makes a home for the lonely; He leads prisoners out into freedom . . . Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God who is our salvation (Psalm 68:4-6, 19).

"O God, make us to know this truth! You see us, Abba, frail creatures who continually fall subject to deceiving feelings. Don't judge us for our sin, Lord; but look at the true desire of our hearts. We really do want You & Your life. Honestly, we're still going to sin. It's not going to stop. Not because we don't love You; but because we're so easily deceived & so used to following our feelings. So be ready with Your grace. After all, Jesus did die for all of our wrong-doing... so just see that when you look at the ways we stray.See how much we need a father & a husband. Most of us have parents & partners who've let us down. As great as some of them are, Lord, we need more. We need a new father, a new husband, who will be faithful to us without ever letting us down. We can't promise we'll never let You down, but we're asking for You to be more faithful than we are. You can do it! Please heal our broken hearts. Help us train ourselves to look to You constantly. We need You, God. We're messed up. We need help. Please don't be slow; but show up like a Hurricane! Only let Your mighty wind set everything right in us instead of tearing us apart like the storms of our past have.Thanks, Jesus, for being a 'right-here' kind of God. Thanks for wanting to be a father to the fatherless & champion of widows. Thanks for wanting to bear our burdens daily. You're awesome & we worship You. Teach us to love You."